Mount Moosilauke the goal this week mile 1790

Mount Moosilauke

Tom ("Mexbuki", aka "Mex-B") passed through Hanover, New Hampshire ahead of schedule on Saturday July 26 and so he is trekking on toward Mount Moosilauke before he gets shuttled back to town, then bussed to Boston Logan airport to fly back home at the end of the week. Since the last post,  the weather has been hot, humid and rainy. This morning the weather has cleared and he is on target to climb  Mount Moosilauke; a 4,802 ft.high mountain at the southwestern edge of the White Mountain range, near the town of Benton, New Hampshire. The trail passes right over the mountain. The name is from two Indian words moois-meaning bald and uake -meaning place. There is a hostel called Hikers Welcome Hostel at the northern base of the mountain near Glencliff, NH that allows hikers to stay overnight with bunks, laundry facilities and a store. The weather is important on this trek up the mountain and if it is storming  it is better to wait it out.

He has come across some great trail angels this week. As Tom entered Hanover, NH he visited the Dartmouth Outing Club to check the listing of hiker resources offered in town. After a Starbucks coffee, he called one of the folks on the list that will let hikers stay at their homes and shuttle them here and there. Warren Thayer agreed to let him stay at their home that evening, and then to come shuttle Tom back to Hanover after his climb of Mount Moosilauke later in the week.  From Hanover, Tom will take a bus down to Boston Logan, from where he will fly home for a break and to meet some other calendar commitments.

I have mentioned  in previous posts that my sisters tennis coach, Bud Schultz, was also hiking the trail. He completed his hike a few weeks ago (WHOO HOO!!) and the video below shows a post that Bud made to his blog at the top of Mount Moosilauke. My goodness! Bud posted 40 mph winds and no visibility the day he was at the top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m84HBiEq1Bk&feature=player_detailpage

Bud's entire journey can be followed here
http://www.tenacitybuddy.org/#

Two night's ago Tom stayed at Tigger's Tree House, near Etna, NH pictured below-it was fortunate because thunderstorms were rumbling through all day.  Ralph and Karen - the proprietors - live just off he trail and have two RV's on their property that they allow the hikers to use.  Inside their home, on the lower level, there is a hiker area equipped with a washer and dryer, food preparation area and bathroom. It was a dream for Tom and another hiker - a southbound veterinarian from Pennsylvania - to share. Then the following morning Karen dropped back at the trailhead, after first stopping at a general store to pick up breakfast sandwiches.

Last night he stayed with 4 other hikers on a porch at Bill Ackerley's home near Lyme, NH  (mile 1762).  Bill is a trail legend who always has ice cream available for hikers and allows them to sleep on his porch even when he is not there.  Bill had been out of town a couple of days, but Tom and the rest had the privilege of meeting him when he returned home that evening.  He prepared coffee for the hikers the next morning.

Once Tom returns home to Greenville I am sure that he will be updating my posts and adding some "go pro" footage and more pictures and adventures.
In the meantime, if you have not seen the entire hiking page it can be located here http://mexbuki2014.blogspot.com
If you go all the way back to the first posting you can see just how he got his trail name (Mexbuki) and also information about The Frazee Dream Center and how you could contribute to their programs for the students they serve.
As for me, I am ready to hear all about this adventure and August 1 cannot come soon enough! Some of the time during this break will be spent figuring out the logistics for Tom and son Kevin to join the journey in Maine. Stay tuned! He expects to return to the trail the second week of September.
co blogger: Anne